Improvement in track-lifters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. N

GEORGE W. SHAFFER, OF SYRACUSE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-LIFTERS.

specification forming part of Leners Patent No. 171,957, dated January11,1376 application iea November 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SHAFFER, of Syracuse, in the county 'ofKosciusko and State of Indiana, have invented a new andvaluableImprovement in Track-Lifters; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of an end or front view ofmy invention. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same.

This invention has relation to devices to be used for liftingrailroad-tracks; and its object is to provide a simple, cheap, andeffective track-lifter, that may be easily transported by hand fromplace to place, and accomplish its purpose in elevating the trackwithout the necessity of employing expensive machinery; and my inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and subsequently pointed out in the claim. Y

In the drawings, A represents the base or platform of my improvedtrack-lifter, to which is bolted or otherwise secured a skeleton-frame,B, composed of any suitable metal best adapted to the purpose. The frameB consists of inolined plates a, formed with steps b and bracerods c, atthe upper end or termination of which are bars d, forming bearings for aroller, c, to serve as a handle or bail in facilitating the readytransporting of the device from place to place. The lever, asrepresented at C, has a curved end, f, and around its upper and lowersides a strengthening plate, g. Upon the end of the lever G is secured aprojecting plate, h, of steel or other hard metal, and its purpose is toprevent the lever (l from slipping when the same is placed under thetrack. To the under side of the lever G, near the curved end j', isjournaled a rod, z', its ends projecting outward from each side of thelever, to admit of its being` readily placed within the steps b of theplate a. r

The great strain necessarily coming upon the plates a when the power isbrought down on the lever would tend to injure the plates by spreadingthem laterally. To remove the danger from such. a cause the rod i isformed upon each end with an annular or other form of disk, j, acting asbearing plates or stays, against which the sides of the plates a arepressed, if at any time they should spread 0r be .forced outwardly bythe strain thereon.

The lever C is provided with a handle, k, which, with the roller orhandle c, are in such location upon the frame and lever that each, whencarried in the hands, will be balanced, thereby greatly facilitatingtheir transportation by a single person.

A device constructed Vaccording to my invention may be manufactured at agreatly-reduced cost over those now in use, and it is always ready forimmediate use, saving time as well as expense inthe employment ofseveral persons to operate it.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is j Theframe, B, consisting of the plates a, with steps b, and the brace-rodsc, and handle e, in combination with the lever C, rod t', disks j, andprojecting plate h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. SHAFFER.

Witnesses:

`JACOB P. PRICKETT,

S. L. KETRING.

